Tufted mop

ABSTRACT

A mop includes a backing having rows of tightly reversely twisted coiled tufts projecting from a bottom side. The tufts are formed from super-thin fabric such as chenille microfiber twisted prior to tufting at 200 to 1000 per 10 cm prior to tuft formation. The tufts are reversely twisted subsequent to tuft formation. A lining overlies the top side of the backing and includes pockets attached at the ends for receiving a mop head without the need for fasteners.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to cleaning tools and, in particular, to a mophaving tightly coiled tufted mop elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As a cleaning tool, the mop is widely used in almost every trade.Currently, the mops on market are basically of the same structure withthe mop mat and mop head fixed together. The fasteners used to fix mopmat and mop head easily become rusty and eroded. Also, because the mopmat and mop head are fixed together, it is troublesome to clean it afteruse. Certainly, the market is having other types of mops available, suchas a mop cloth of which the technology was published by the StateIntellectual Property Office of P.R.C in Oct. 27, 1999, with applicationnumber of CN98217546.9. In its design, the back of the mop cloth isslipped on a mop handle together with a mop head. The mop cloth is awhole part combined by many mop strips. The mop strips are divided intotwo sets of the same shape. One side of it is braided and connected intoa fixed long shape. The other side is constructed with long strips ofthe same shape. The mop strips are fastened and connected with a linerthrough braids in the middle. The two sides of mop strips are overlappedto form the whole mop cloth. On account of its weak structure, the mophas many flaws in its fastening, and the mop strips are easily damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of this new type of application is to resolve theproblems of inconvenience of using, large foot-print and difficulties toclean as commonly seen among existing mops, and provide a mop assemblywith a detachable mop and mop head to allow easy replacing and removing,and benefit users with a small foot-print and ease of cleaning.

This new type of application involves the structure of a mop, in whichsome fabric strips are deployed in coiled tufts under a backing panel.Two fastening blocks are set upon the said joint layer, which is coveredby a lining panel. The two sides of fastening blocks are connected withthe lining panel. The two fastening blocks are located on opposite endsof the backing layer. One fastening block is in the form of an inwardlyopening pocket. The other fastening block forms a through-hole sleeve onthe other side of the joint layer. Both openings of the blocks face themid-section of the joint layer. The fastening blocks and lining layerare wrapped with cloth strip borders. The function of this utility modelis to provide a mop with detachable mop matt and mop head to allow easyreplacing and removing, and benefits users with small foot-print andease of wash.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide moping elements for a mopcomprising tufts of yarn processed to effect a tight reverse twist. Thetight reverse twist is formed by pre-twisting the yarn prior to tuftingat a rate of about 200 to 1000 per 10 cm, forming rows of tufts in abacking material with the pre-twisted yarn, subsequent to tuftingreversely twisting the tufts. The resulting tufts are compactly coiledand have a free hanging disposition in longitudinal alignment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the mop according to an embodiment of theinvention on a mopping surface; and

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a tufted mop 10 in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention is a flat format for the wet or drymopping of a surface. The mop 10 configured for non-fastener assemblywith a frame-type mop head as described below. On the surface, the mopelements or tufts are arrayed in longitudinal row beneath the mop andorient outwardly about the perimeter as shown.

The mop 10 comprises a backing assembly 12 carrying a plurality oftufted mop elements 14 in longitudinal rows 16. The backing assembly 12includes a rectangular backing panel 20 on which the mop elements 14 aretufted. The backing assembly 12 includes a lining panel 22 that overliesthe backing panel 20. The mop frame is retained on the mop at by a firstfastener block 24 in the form of a pocket at one end of the lining panel22 and by a second retain block in the form of an open ended sleeve 26spaced inwardly of the other end. The block 24 is stitched to the liningpanel 22 at the end and lateral sides to form an inwardly openingpocket. The block 26 is stitched to the lining panel at the lateralsides for form a longitudinal opening. The edges of the panels 22 and20, and the blocks 24, 26 are covered by border edging 30. For assembly,one end of the mop frame is inserted through the sleeve to an off-centerposition and the other end inserted at the pocket. The frame is thencentered on the mop for use. If desired the separated lining panel maybe eliminated and the sleeve and pocket assembled directly to thebacking panel.

The tufts are formed in longitudinal rows from a spool of yarn or fabricmaterial on conventional tufting machinery that punched the yarn with atufting needle at periodical longitudinal spacings. Prior to tufting,the yarn or fabric is twisted between about 200 to 1000 per 10 cm and ina preferred form about 600 per 10 cm. During the tufting, the needleelongates the pitch of the twists and upon release the tufts reverselytwist into the coiled format. Post tufting treatment, mechanical orthermal, is used to further coil the tufts. The material for the yarn ispreferably a super-thin fabric such as a chenille microfiber. Each rowof tufts thus extend downwardly from the bottom surface of the backingpanel and are interconnected on the top surface.

The tufts are closely spaced at about 0.5 to 3.0 cm apart, with a 0.7 cmspacing used in a preferred format. The lengths tufts between 1 are 6cm. and less than 2.5 cm. preferred.

The mop is preferably in a low foot print format with an aspect ratio ofabout 5/1. When the cleaning is finished, users can remove the frame,and separately wash away dirt on the mop.

Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the inventionhave been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that many changes in construction and widely differingembodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselveswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrativeand are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is definedsolely in accordance with the following claims.

1. A mop comprising: a backing; rows of tufts on said backing, each rowof said tufts projecting from a bottom side of said backing andconsisting of fabric yarn twisted at 200 to 1000 per 10 cm prior to tuftformation; said tufts having a length of between 1 and 6 cm. and aspacing of between 0.5 to 3 cm; a lining overlying a top side of saidbacking; and pockets attached at the ends of said lining for receiving amop head.
 2. The mop as recited in claim 1 wherein said yarn is twistedabout 600 per 10 cm.
 3. The mop as recited in claim 1 wherein said yarnis a chenille mircrofiber.
 4. A method of making a mop comprising thesteps of: providing a fabric yarn; twisting said fabric yarn at about200 to 1000 per 10 cm; forming rows of tufts of said yarn on a backingmaterial in the form U-shaped fabric strips having a length of between 1and 6 cm and extending from a bottom surface of said backing materialand spaced about 0.5 to 3 cm. apart; attaching a lining to a top surfaceof said backing material; attaching fastening blocks at the ends of saidlining having openings facing the center portion of said lining; andinserting a mop head into said blocks to form a mop assembly.
 5. Themethod as recited in claim 4 wherein said tufts are further reverselytwisted subsequent to said forming.
 6. The method as recited in claim 5wherein said yarn is a chenille microfiber.